Saturday, August 6, 2016

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Homer Bailey vs. Ivan Nova

The Cincinnati Reds visit PNC Park on Saturday to play the Pittsburgh Pirates. The probable starters are Homer Bailey for the Reds and Ivan Nova for the Pirates. The Reds have a 56-41-10 over/under record and a 55-52-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 51% of the time. The Pirates are 50-56-0 against the run line and have a 61-44-1 over/under record. They cover the spread 47% of the time.

The Reds head into this matchup with a 44-63 record, including 18-34 on the road. Starting pitcher Homer Bailey has a 1-0 record with an earned run average of 3.18 and a WHIP of 1.24. He has 6 strikeouts over his 5.2 innings pitched and he has given up 4 hits so far this season. He has allowed 6.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 2.6. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 5.17 and they have given up 379 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .251 against the bullpen while being struck out 351 times and walking 200 times this season. As a team, Cincinnati has allowed 9.17 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.51 batters per nine. They are 30th in the league in team earned run average at 5.11. The Reds pitchers have collectively given up 977 base hits and 544 earned runs. They have allowed 176 home runs this season and they allow 1.7 homers per nine innings as a staff. Cincinnati as a pitching staff has walked 436 batters and struck out 800. They walk 4.1 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.5 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.47 and their FIP as a unit is 5.37.

As a team, Cincinnati is batting .244, good for 24th in the league while putting together a .241 average away from home. The Reds hold a .404 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .305 which is good for 28th in baseball. They rank 25th in baseball with 8.23 hits per game. Joey Votto comes into this game hitting .289 and his on-base percentage is at .420. He has 103 hits this season along with 66 runs scored and 54 runs batted in. He's struck out 100 times and has walked 78 times. Zack Cozart is hitting .266 and he has an on-base percentage of .317. He has totaled 98 hits so far while scoring 55 runs and he's driven in 41. He has walked 27 times and has struck out 62 times. The Reds have 880 hits, including 177 doubles and 120 home runs. They've stolen 87 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 34 times. Cincinnati has walked 292 times this season and they've struck out 885 times as a unit. They've left 627 men on base and have a team OPS of .708. They score 4.35 runs per contest and have scored a total of 465 runs so far this year.

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup with a 29-23 home record and a 53-53 overall mark. With an earned run average of 4.90, Ivan Nova has a 7-6 record and a 1.36 WHIP. He has 75 strikeouts over the 97.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 107 hits. He has allowed 9.9 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 5.08. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.55 and they have given up 359 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .249 against the Pirates bullpen while being struck out 323 times and walking 147 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 9.21 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.44 batters per nine. They are 16th in the league in team earned run average at 4.26. The Pirates pitchers as a team have surrendered 975 base knocks and 451 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 117 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Pittsburgh as a staff has walked 364 hitters and struck out 788. They give up a walk 3.4 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.4 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.41 while their FIP as a staff is 4.35.

As a team, they are batting .258, good for 12th in the league while putting together a .275 average at home. The Pirates hold a .404 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .329 which is good for 7th in baseball. They rank 12th in baseball with 8.87 hits per contest. Gregory Polanco comes into this matchup batting .283 and he has an OBP of .356. He has 98 hits this year along with 58 runs scored and 56 RBI. He's struck out 78 times and has walked on 42 occasions. Starling Marte is hitting .320 and he has an OBP of .378. He has collected 119 hits so far while he's scored 58 runs and drove in 37. He has earned a walk 19 times and has punched out 83 times. The Pirates as a unit have 940 base hits, including 191 doubles and 99 homers. They have 80 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 30 times. Pittsburgh as a team has walked 338 times this year and they have struck out 881 times. They've had 754 men left on base and have an OPS of .734. They score 4.55 runs per game and have totaled 482 runs so far this season.

Cincinnati Reds Betting Trends

The Cincinnati Reds are 56-41-10 against the over/under so far this season

The Cincinnati Reds are 55-52-0 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 61-44-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 50-56-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Cincinnati Reds

08/04/16 P A.J. Morris Shoulder 15-day DL (6/16)
08/04/16 SS Zack Cozart Finger "?" Friday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
06/23/16 P Alfredo Simon Trapezius 15-day DL (6/22)
06/01/16 P Caleb Cotham Shoulder 15-day DL (5/29)
05/02/16 C Devin Mesoraco Shoulder 60-day DL (5/1); out for season
04/10/16 CF Yorman Rodriguez Hamstring 60-day DL (3/27)

Pittsburgh Pirates

08/04/16 C Francisco Cervelli Head "?" Friday vs. Cincinnati Reds
07/24/16 P Tyler Glasnow Shoulder 15-day DL (7/24)
07/04/16 C Chris Stewart Knee 15-day DL (7/2)

Josh's Pick: Take the Reds

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald